To: Mr.Polmar, 'No disrespect is intended in this posting to you or your credentials, sir, but as one of the soldiers who actually spent time in the Infantry learning, teaching, setting in place, firing, disassembling and cleaning, there's no "MA" in the Grunt-abbreviated version of the machine gun's nomenclature designator M2. As per the Field Manual (FM) for the same, the long version of "M2" comes from the Model version, then comes the numerical sequence designator. Hence, for the Grunt, Model becomes: "MOD", not "MA". Then, of course, "deuce" for the number 2. In future, my only sincere hope is that instead of relying solely on research of a subject matter outside your own field, garnered from the pages of books, try talking with the folks who actually put their hands on Infantry weapons and equipment everyday: the troops whose lives are very dependant on the same.
It is good that they are coming out with a new model. As an old grunt and having served in Vietnam and Germany I had to carry the M-2 a few times while still mounted to it's tripod and it weighted 131 lbs. Me and my APC driver had to carry one up a hill in Baumholder (a nice place) Germany. If it is lighter but just as deadly and accurate, I say go for it.
There it is CactusmacII !!! You and I both know some of these blockheads are gonna' P & moan about losing the old "Ma Deuce." But if ANY OF `EM ARE HONEST AND IF ANY OF `EM REALLY HAD TO CARRY THAT HEAVY BI****** UH, OOOPPS, Old Br****, er, Lady, then they'd want a lighter, heavy machinegun too.
